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During the 1920s and 1930s, in the aftermath of World War 1, Europe had a vivid political, economic and
cultural scene. During this period nations were rebuilding their homes and values. This dynamic environment
nurtured and accelerated the development of several significant modern movements, events and modes of
thought, including the ideas of: Le Corbusier, CIAM, Werkbund, Bauhaus, De Stijl, Constructivism,
Suprematism and others.
In 1918 Poland reemerged as a sovereign state after 150 years of foreign occupation. Polish artists were
able to switch their primary focus from patriotic and nationalistic issues of preserving national culture and
identity to more universal and progressive ideas. The first important group of the Polish artistic avant-garde
was the Formists. This group became active in Krakow around 1919-1921. By 1924 another influential group,
Blok, was officially established. It promoted socially aware, logical and utilitarian art designed for industrial
mass production. Artists also called for collaboration with architects.
In retrospective, one of the most significant artistic events during this period, but considered marginal at the
time, was the formation in Warsaw of the avant-garde group Praesens. The group was launched on the
initiative of a young architect, Szymon Syrkus, and included a new generation of architects and artists.
Together they began the essential task of solving the social problems of the time, which they believed, could
be achieved only as a result of common efforts. Ideologically, the members of Praesens subscribed to the
principles embodied in functionalism. The name of the group Praesens (a Latin word similar in meaning to
the English "presence") was a manifestation of the arrival of the young artistic avant-garde and its existence
on the cultural scene. The use of a foreign word also suggested the international interests and character of
the group, which was typical for the Modern Movement.
Members of Praesens propagated their ideas by projects, lectures and publications. They also introduced the
Modern Movement to Poland and contributed to the development of international events. In particular, young
Polish architects were actively participating in the early works of CIAM.
The progressive architects of Praesens were involved in housing projects. Low-income housing was the
primary focus of their efforts, as this was perceived as one of the most immediate social needs. They worked
with other organizations established to improve the conditions in workers' housing. WSM (Warsaw Housing
Cooperative) and TOR (The Association for Workers' Housing) received in Poland the greatest accolades in
this area, as well as international recognition at CIAM meetings.
Praesens architects also taught at the Warsaw School of Architecture, where they passed on modernist
ideas to a younger generation. Their educational activities were important to the assimilation of the Modern
Movement in Poland and are an important link with traditions broken by WW2 and the resulting change in the
political situation. Their principles regarding modern design survived decades of neglect and abuse and are
currently being harvested by contemporary Polish architects.
This study was conducted exclusively using digital tools. Digitally recorded data was processed in image
processing software. Drafting, modeling and animation tools were used for the reconstruction and analysis.
The final presentation was composed using multimedia software.
Extensive application of digital media in this study allows a better comprehension of the subject and
demonstrates the significance of the group Praesens. Digital tools facilitate research and analysis. Digital
reconstruction of buildings or their fragments enhances the understanding of tradition. Also, because of the
dynamic character of the media it is possible to consider and compare different aspects of various projects.
Through the interaction with studied buildings an opportunity to break from the linear character of the
analytical process is introduced. Finally, the result of the study is a multimedia publication, which allows a
multi-faceted presentation, and one that is more engaging for a viewer because of its interactivity and nonlinear
structure.
Three architectural teams distinguished themselves among the members of Praesens, as they strongly
marked Polish Modern Architecture with their projects and related professional activities. The teams were
formed by: Helena and Szymon Syrkus, Barbara and Stanislaw Brukalski, and Bohdan Lachert and Jozef
Szanajca. The subject of this study is narrowed down to the work by these three teams, and selected
projects are analyzed in detail. The work of other architects related to Praesens or to the principles of the
Modern Movement is also referenced in the CD-ROM presentation.

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